Can Boise State Pass the Test? College Football Week 4 Preview

With conference play (mostly) upon us, there’s a full slate of compelling games for the fourth week of the college football season, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Reminder: All ranking reflect the USA Today coaches poll, which has a bearing on the BCS.
#1 Alabama at #11 Arkansas— Boy, Mark Ingram didn’t miss a step, did he? The Crimson Tide’s Heisman winner came back with a bang last week and lit up Duke in another easy ‘Bama win. This week promises to be more challenging, as the 11th-ranked Razorbacks figure needs to put up some points behind Heisman candidate Ryan Mallet, who has thrown for over 1,000 yards in three games. The game is the first of three straight contests the Tide will play against ranked conference foes.
Oregon State at #3 Boise State— The Beavers painted their practice field blue in anticipation of this game, which is being hyped as Boise’s second—and last—true test on the way to a possible BCS National Title game appearance. Forgetting that fellow WAC member Nevada is receiving more votes in the USA Today poll, this is certainly Boise’s highest-profile game remaining. While it’s unlikely, a Boise win and Alabama loss would flip-flop the two schools in the polls, and would close the 179-point gap between the two considerably.
#21 West Virginia at #12 LSU— The Big East is considered to be the weakest of the BCS conferences, and that was before the best team in the second-worst conference—Miami (Fla.) of the ACC— obliterated the Big East’s second-best team—Pittsburgh—31-3 on the road last night. So, to say the Big East needs a quality win would be an understatement. LSU would have a shot to creep into the Top 10 with a win and an Arkansas loss.
Other games I’ve got my eye on: #17 Stanford at Notre Dame, #13 South Carolina at #14 Auburn, Cal at #16 Arizona.
Which game are you waiting for?